New initiatives, in line with WAA’s 2011-13 strategic plan, help cross barriers in access to services by strengthening synergistic relationships.

Several of these initiatives are as follows:
 

Expansion of Affordable Housing

WAA partnered with Columbus Property Management/1260 Housing Development Corporation to set aside permanent housing units with rental subsidies for which WAA will identify clients and provide ongoing supportive services. To date, 10 families have secured permanent subsidized housing through CPM/1260 and continue to receive case management support through WAA’s Aftercare Program.

Hospital Outreach

WAA helped convene leadership from local hospitals and DV advocacy groups with the goal of developing a citywide best practice model for implementing screening and intervention services in the emergency department, as well as offering technical support and building a stronger link between hospitals and domestic violence service providers.

Community-based Wellness Collaboration

WAA is currently serving as the lead agency within a collaboration of agencies, including Project H.O.M.E. and Jefferson Family and Community Medicine, in order to offer community-based health and wellness programs. Through a two-year grant funded by the Philadelphia Department of Behavioral Health and Intellectual Disability Services, WAA is both coordinating and providing trauma-informed behavioral health services in a neighborhood where domestic violence rates are twice the average across the City.

Telephone Outreach Program

In 2009, Philadelphia witnessed an alarming 67% spike in domestic violence murders over the previous year. Of the 37 women who died at the hands of an abusive intimate partner, the Philadelphia Police Department and WAA found that the majority had made previous calls to 911 — many on multiple occasions — yet few had been put in touch with legal and domestic violence services.

Under the Telephone Outreach Program (TOP) which first launched on August 1, 2010, trained victim advocates reach out to high-risk domestic violence victims who have dialed 911 for domestic violence at a provided safe number. Risk is assessed according to a set protocol based on analysis of filed police reports for certain red flag markers, which include signs of strangulation, weapon use, multiple incidents, stalking, and PFA violations that did not lead to an arrest.

Once reached, victims are provided with critical information regarding upcoming criminal proceedings, legal issues, and safety planning, as well as referrals to domestic violence services. TOP provides an invaluable information service, as many victims are unaware of upcoming court dates or informed at the very last minute, or may be otherwise unclear about what options they have under the legal system, as well as available safety net services, to seek protection from abuse.